Christmas Babies by Mona Risk Read Free Book Online Page A

to visit Mr. and Mrs. Hughes.
Their three-bedroom condo is on the eleventh floor. They are expecting us.”
    He loved it when she referred to
them as us . “After you, Dr. Ramsay.”
    And he loved it when she
chuckled.
     Madelyn introduced him to Howard
and Nancy Hughes, a couple in their early sixties, jovial and easygoing. They
had a gorgeous place and enjoyed showing it. Nick accepted a drink and moved to
the splendid bar separating the dining room space from the living room.
    “Do you like sailing and
fishing?” Howard asked in his friendly baritone voice.
    “Sailing yes. I’ve always wanted
to buy a boat, but never had time.”
    “You should come with us. Nancy
and I love cruising the Intracoastal and sailing to the ocean. We’ll take
Madelyn of course.” The man leaned toward him and lowered his voice while
Madelyn chatted with his wife in the kitchen. “I can understand your interest. Nancy
has been trying to match make her with all the bachelors we know. She never
seemed interested. Until today. You lucky man.” Howard punched him on the
shoulder. “We’ll help you.”
    Taken aback by the out-of-place
assumption, Nick stiffened. “There’s nothing between Dr. Ramsay and I. We just
work together.”
    “If you say so.” Howard tilted
his head with a sarcastic arch to his eyebrows. “Although Nancy noticed the way
our lovely neighbor looks at you. And my wife is an expert at detecting these
things. She was a psychologist. You can’t trick her.”
    “Really?” Nick narrowed his eyes
but smiled. “Interesting.” The women returned carrying platters of cheese,
crackers, and various hors d'oeuvres. “Madelyn, Howard wants to invite us for a
boat ride.” How he loved saying that us .
    “We’ll plan an outing for
December 15,” Howard immediately elaborated. “On the day of the boat show
parade. You’ll enjoy it.”
    “I’m not sure...” Madelyn started,
her gaze shifting from Nick to their host. “I may be on call.”
    Howard interrupted her. “Can Nick
do something about it? You mentioned he was your boss now.”
    Blast the man for reminding them
of their new status. What if Madelyn used the excuse of not mixing work and
fun, especially with a superior? “Our doctors set their own schedules,” he
hastened to specify. “If Madelyn is interested in boating, she can sign up for
a free day.”
    She checked her iPhone. “No
problem. I’m off on the 15th. We can go around noon. It’ll be fun.”
    No kidding? She’d agreed right
away. Joy filled his lungs.
    “We’ll jump off the boat at the Chart
House for a quick lunch,” Nancy explained as she offered them hors d'oeuvres. “Then
we’ll continue to the ocean and come back in the evening for the boat parade.”
    “Perfect.” Nick looked at
Madelyn. She nodded her approval. Swell .
    They exchanged a light banter and
ate the appetizers. “We’ll see you later,” Madelyn stood to leave.
    “Thank you so much for showing
your beautiful condo,” Nick added.
    As he followed her, Nancy patted
his arm and whispered, “I knew it. You’re the one for her.”
    Nick swallowed wrong. He wasn’t
the one for anybody.
    If Madelyn wanted to marry, she
deserved better than Nicolas Preston. A man with a heavy emotional baggage.
    How could he explain to her he
wanted no commitment when he was doing his best to date her, when she’d finally
given him the time of the day outside the hospital?

 
     
     
    Chapter Four
    “So, you like my building?”
Madelyn entered her apartment and spun toward him. Her eyes twinkled with green
specks.
    “I love it.” Mesmerized, he
returned her smile and lowered his gaze. Nicer view if possible. The printed
strapless blouse clung to her breasts and the yellow capris revealed a pair of
perfect long legs.
    Warning bells jingled in his
ears. Careful, man. Or you may love more than the Blue Lagoon high
rise .
    “I’ll cut the roast and warm the
casserole.”
    He frowned as soon as she
sprinted to the kitchen, but